Guan Eng: Why M sia lagging in vaccination despite billions spent?
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Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng said Putrajaya owed an explanation over why the country was lagging behind in its Covid-19 vaccination efforts compared to its regional peers. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin must explain to the public how RM5 billion raided from the National Trust Fund (or KWAN) to fund the National Immunisation Programme and RM622 billion in economic stimulus packages and 2021 Budget is spent, when Malaysia’s vaccination rate is lower than Indonesia and there is no sign of sustainable economic recovery, he said in a statement.
If Brazil had signed the August 2020 proposal, it could have received around 18.5 million doses by June 2021, Murillo said.
Carlos Murillo, general manager for Latin America at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, said Thursday that three offers were made to Brazil during 2020 to supply vaccines against coronavirus, but all were rejected by President Jair Bolsonaro s government.
Murillo made those statements before the Parliamentary Investigations Commission (CPI), which is conducting an investigation into Bolsonaro s handling of the covid-19 crisis, which many anticipate could lead to his impeachment.
Meanwhile, Bolsonaro lashed out at the CPI s strongman, Senator Renan Calheiros.
The Pfizer executive told the ICC that the first exploratory talks with the Brazilian government were held in May and June 2020, and two letters with concrete offers were sent in August. The first shipments were due to arrive by the end of 2020.
Friday, 14 May 2021 05:54 AM MYT
BY R. LOHESWAR
One thing all the frontliners agreed on was that vaccination was the only sure way to defeat the pandemic. ― Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri
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KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 Malaysia’s health workers battling the Covid-19 pandemic are struggling to remain hopeful amid a renewed wave of infections, after already more than a year with the coronavirus.
Several medical frontliners who spoke to
Malay Mail on the condition of anonymity said they have already made repeated personal sacrifices in the war against Covid-19, not including the effort they have already put in.
Centre should form national policy for Covid vax imports: Rajesh Tope
Urges to provide 20 lakh doses to administer second jabs to citizens above 45 years
Maharashtra Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday urged the Centre to formulate a national policy for importing vaccines, increase the quota for black fungus (mucormycosis) medicine for the state and reduce the price on this drug.
At the virtual meeting with the Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Tope also demanded that the Centre should provide 20-22 lakh vaccine doses to complete the vaccination of second dose for citizens above 45 years. He suggested the Centre needs to properly plan to meet the requirement of vaccine doses by the state.
COVID-19: Priority 45-plus in Maharashtra as state s vaccine stocks dwindle
The citizens above 45 years of age are vaccinated for free under the National Immunization Programme of the Central government.
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A man receives a vaccine for COVID-19 in his wheelchair at a drive-in vaccination centre in Mumbai. (Photo | AP) By Express News Service
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has decided to prioritise vaccination in favour of those aged above 45 years. State Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that many persons above 45 years of age are waiting for their second dose.
“The state government has decided to give a second dose out of the doses purchased for vaccinating 18 to 45-year-olds. The Centre has not provided adequate vaccines for the second doses meant for above 45-year-old people. So, people from 18-45 may not get the vaccines on time,” Tope said.